Loratadine and Pseudoephedrine Sulfate

Loratadine and Pseudoephedrine for Allergies

What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking loratadine and pseudoephedrine sulfate if you have:

Heart disease
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Difficulty passing urine
An enlarged prostate (also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH)
Thyroid disease
Diabetes
Glaucoma
Difficulty swallowing tablets
Kidney disease, such as kidney failure (renal failure)
Liver disease, including liver failure, cirrhosis, or hepatitis
Any allergies, including allergies to food, dyes, or preservatives.

Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:

Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant (see Claritin-D and Pregnancy)
Breastfeeding (see Claritin-D and Breastfeeding).

Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

(Click Precautions and Warnings With Loratadine and Pseudoephedrine Sulfate to learn more, including information on who should not take the drug.)

How Does Loratadine and Pseudoephedrine Sulfate Work?

Allergies occur when the body's immune system reacts to normally harmless substances that do not bother most people. This reaction is partly caused by the release of histamine from certain cells in the body. Loratadine (one component of the drug) is an antihistamine, which means it blocks histamine from binding to histamine receptors and causing allergy symptoms. Since histamine is responsible for many of the symptoms of allergies, blocking it can be helpful. However, antihistamines are not helpful for nasal congestion, which is why loratadine is combined with pseudoephedrine.

Pseudoephedrine (the other component) is a nasal decongestant that works by constricting the blood vessels in the nose, helping to relieve nasal congestion due to many causes, including allergies and the common cold.

(Loratadine and Pseudoephedrine Sulfate Continued: Page 3)
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